Non-slip golf glove

ABSTRACT

Non-slip golf gloves adapted to be worn by golfers especially when handling clubs for driving, putting, etc. The gloves are constructed of light fabric and the front portions are coated with minuscule, non-slip protuberances regularly arranged in rows and columns, being constituted of a rubber-like substance. The coated portions of the gloves are still pervious and still constitute a breathable fabric, whereby the entire glove is breathable, minimizing the likelihood of causing perspiration of the hand, and also having the ability to absorb and evaporate the natural perspiration. The non-slip surfaces are on those areas needed to reduce slippage when handling clubs, while at the same time the entire glove is fully breathable and perspiration absorbent whereby it is comfortable to wear. In addition, it tends to prevent blisters from forming.

United States Patent Millman [451 Mar. 211, 11972 [54] NON-SLIP GOLF GLUVE [72] lnventor: Sandy K. Millman, 7 Adriance Avenue,

UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,703,887 3/1955 Kennedy ..2/l67 3,404,409 10/1968 Tillotsoul et al. ..2/167 X 2,309.516 1/1943 Lindfelt 3,341,861 9/1967 Robbins ..2/163 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Assistant Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Att0rney-H. Gibner Lehmann 5 7 ABSTRACT Non-slip golf gloves adapted to be worn by golfers especially when handling clubs for driving, putting, etc. The gloves are constructed of light fabric and the front portions are coated with minuscule, non-slip protuberances regularly arranged in rows and columns, being constituted of a rubberlike substance. The coated portions ofthe gloves are still pervious and still constitute a breathable fabric, whereby the entire glove is breathable, minimizing the likelihood of causing perspiration of the hand, and lso having the ability to absorb and evaporate the natural perspiration. The non-slip surfaces are on those areas needed to reduce slippage when handling clubs, while at the same time the entire glove is fully breathable and perspiration absorbent whereby it is comfortable to wear. in addition, it tends to prevent blisters from forming.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZI I972 INVENTOR SAZ/DYK M/LZMAN WW vs ulna 012- 100 0400 one 9 a aunauonovaaa a can. olneoo nave 1000c sou-su GOLF GLOVE BACKGROUND Heretofore play gloves, work gloves and the like have been provided with special facing surfaces or materials for the purpose of preventing wear, preventing slippage, etc. In general these gloves were not comfortable to wear at all times. In some instances they were cumbersome and restricted free movements of the fingers. In other cases, the facing portions were impervious, and tended to collect perspiration, making for discomfort ofthe wearer.

SUMMARY The above drawbacks and disadvantages of prior special work or play gloves are obviated by the present invention, which has for one object the provision ofan improved nonslip golfers glove which is especially light in weight and comfortable to wear at all times, and which has nonslip facing portions which are breathable and capable of absorbing and evaporating perspiration in substantially the same manner as the backing and side portions of the glove. This is accomplished by the provision of a glove construction wherein the back panel and finger portions are constituted of light fabric, preferably cotton fabric, as well as the side portions ofthe fingers. The glove has facing portions or front faces on the fingers, including the thumb, which have been provided with a coating of rubberlike substance in the form of minuscule, nonslip protuberances which are regularly arranged in rows and columns and are separated from each other by spacing fabric portions having the characteristics of being breathable. Thus, the entire glove is breathable while at the same time the front or facing portions have a multiplicity of minute rubberlike protuberances which are especially effective in preventing slippage when the user is grasping a club handle. The glove absorbs and evaporates moisture, and additionally minimizes the likelihood of formation ofskin blisters.

Other features and objects of the invention reside in the provision of an improved nonslip golfers glove as above characterized, which is especially simple in construction, economical to fabricate, especially comfortable to wear at all times, and which has an especially light or thin coating comprising the miniscule protuberances; and the provision of an improved nonslip golfers glove in accordance with the foregoing which is durable and resistant to wear while at the same time being especially light in weight and convenient to use.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

in the drawings accompanying this specification and showing several embodiments ofthe invention:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view ofa nonslip golfers glove as provided by the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section through an uncoated fabric portion ofthe glove, taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section of a coated portion of the glove, taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view ofa coated portion ofthe glove, and

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of a nonslip glove constituting another embodiment of the invention, wherein the ends of the finger portions are open and the finger portions are shortened as would be obtained essentially by cutting offthe fingertips of the gloves of FIG. 1.

Considering first FIGS. 1-4, the golfers glove illustrated therein comprises a fabric back panel having a wrist portion 12, a rear palm portion 14 and rear finger portions 16. The fabric back panel is breathable and preferably constituted of light cotton cloth of the type commonly used for ladies dress gloves and the like. The same light cotton fabric material is used to form side portions or forchettes 18, 20 and 22 between the four fingers of the glove. The portions 18, 20 and 22 are separate pieces not integral with each other, and preferably are separate from the back panel portion of the glove.

The thumb portion 24 of the glove is preferably set in to the front or palm portion, being constituted as an inset. The

thumb has a fabric, breathable back portion or panel 26, of material similar to that utilized for the main back panel 10.

In accordance with the present invention, the glove is provided with a front panel portion 28, and the thumb is provided with a facing portion or panel 29 which are constituted of a woven breathable fabric that is coated with a rubberlike substance, such as rubber or flexible, resilient plastic, such coating comprising minuscule, nonslip protuberances 30 which are regularly arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns so as to form a regular pattern of closely spaced rows and columns. The nonslip protuberances 30 are illustrated in FIG. 4, which is a greatly enlarged fragmentary plan view ofa portion of the front nonslip panel 28. As seen in FIG. I, the front panel 28 includes facing portions 32, 34, 36 and 38 of the forefinger, middle finger, fourth finger and small finger or pinkie respectively. The facing panel 29 of the thumb portion 24 of the glove is preferably formed of a separate piece, separate from the front panel 28. The various pieces of fabric making up the glove may be stitched together with stitches which are disposed on the inside, in the conventional manner well known in the glove-making art. A snap fastener comprising a male part 40 and a female part 42 is provided on the wrist portion of the glove, on the facing panel 23. Lines of stitching 44, 46, 48 and 50 may appear on the exterior of the glove.

In accordance with the present invention, the coating of the protuberances 30 on the front panels 28 and 29 is done in such a manner that the portions of the fabric between the protuberances, which space apart the latter, are pervious and breathable whereby the entire nonslip front panel of the glove as well as the facing portion 29 of the thumb can absorb and evaporate perspiration from the hand of the user. Cloth having the protuberances 30 is known, is available commercially, and is currently used in the making of slip covers for automobiles. One way of coating a fabric to provide the protuberances 30 is to pass the fabric between upper and lower rollers, the lower roller having a large number of small dimples in its surface and being partially immersed at its lower portion in a latex or similar, rubber-containing liquid bath. When the rollers turn, a doctor blade scrapes the surface of the lower roller, scraping off excess latex coating substance and leaving only a latex filling in the dimples. As such filling of the dimples comes in contact with the cloth, the small dimple shaped quantities of latex substance are transferred to the cloth. The lower roller can be heated to effect a rapid partial curing, and the dimpled areas are highly polished and coated with a mold release substance whereby the partially vulcanized latex in the dimples does not adhere to the roller but instead is picked up by the fabric. The method of coating a fabric with latex forms no part of the present invention. It will be noted that backing and side panel portions of the glove, being of light cotton fabric also absorb and evaporate perspiration. Due to the minute size of the protuberances 30 and the thinness of the coating represented thereby, the glove is extremely flexible and light in weight, and is comfortable to wear while at the same time providing an effective nonslip surface where the handle of the golf club is engaged by the glove. Also, the user has comfort while wearing the glove due to absorption and evaporation of any natural perspiration, and the glove tends to prevent the blistering of the skin which could otherwise occur when a golf club is firmly gripped and swung a number of times.

The front panel 28 as well as the portion 29 of the thumb of the glove are cut out from a material which has been previously coated to provide the minuscule nonslip protuberances 30. Due to the small size of such protuberances and the light coating represented thereby, the cutout pieces of fabric may be handled as with ordinary cloth, and may be sewed and otherwise worked in the manner of light fabrics as used in the glove-making art.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein there is shown a nonslip golfers glove having finger portions which are open to enable the tips of the users fingers to protrude therefrom. Similar parts have similar numbers with the added suffix a. Such a glove may be obtained, for example, by cutting off the tip portions of the fingers and the thumb ofthe glove of FIG. 1. Preferably. to prevent fraying of the fabric portions which do not have the nonslip coating, the cut edges 56 could be hemmed or else coated with a flexible rubberlike substance which would trap the fibers and prevent fraying ofthe cut fabric edge.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that l have provided a novel and improved, lightweight nonslip golfers glove which has special advantages and features in that it can be worn throughout the course of a golf game, is effective in preventing slippage when the golf club is being used, tends to prevent blistering of the skin of the users hand, and is breathable throughout all of its portions, both coated and uncoated, whereby perspiration will be absorbed and evaporated, thereby greatly contributing to the comfort and practicability of the glove. The glove may be inexpensively produced and contributes to improvement of the golf game of the user.

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A nonslip golfers glove comprising, in combination:

a. a pervious, breathable, perspiration absorbent and evaporating fabric back portion, and

b. a pervious, breathable perspiration absorbent and evaporating fabric front portion secured to said back portion,

c. said front portion having a multiplicity of minute, nonslip spaced, rubberlike protuberances,

d. the areas of said front portion which are disposed between said protuberances being pervious to both moisture and air, and constituting a breathable part ofthe glove.

. A glove as in claim 1, wherein:

the protuberances are disposed in evenly, closely spaced rows and columns.

3. A glove as in claim 1, wherein:

a. the front portion of the glove includes the front faces of the fingers and thumb.

4. A glove as in claim 3, wherein:

a. the thumb of the glove is constituted of separate pieces,

and is set and secured into the palm portion of the glove.

5. A glove as in claim 1, wherein:

a. the fabric has weft and woof strands, and

b. the protuberances extend in directions parallel to the weft and woof strands of the fabric. 

1. A nonslip golfer''s glove comprising, in combination: a. a pervious, breathable, perspiration absorbent and evaporating fabric back portion, and b. a pervious, breathable perspiration absorbent and evaporating fabric front portion secured to said back portion, c. said front portion having a multiplicity of minute, nonslip spaced, rubberlike protuberances, d. the areas of said front portion which are disposed between said protuberances being pervious to both moisture and air, and constituting a breathable part of the glove.
 2. A glove as in claim 1, wherein: a. the protuberances are disposed in evenly, closely spaced rows and columns.
 3. A glove as in claim 1, wherein: a. the front portion of the glove includes the front faces of the fingers and thumb.
 4. A glove as in claim 3, wherein: a. the thumb of the glove is constituted of separate pieces, and is set and secured into the palm portion of the glove.
 5. A glove as in claim 1, wherein: a. the fabric has weft and woof strands, and b. the protuberances extend in directions parallel to the weft and woof strands of the fabric. 